I'm A Fan
Author: Sheena Patel
Published by: Rough Trade Books
Pages: 208
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
Author: Sheena Patel
Published by: Rough Trade Books
Pages: 208
Format: Hardback
My Rating ★★★★
A searing disquisition on human interaction viewed through the prism of one seemingly toxic relationship,
Patel's remarkable debut encompasses social media, patriarchal systems, and status anxiety into an emotionally visceral whole.
A searing disquisition on human interaction viewed through the prism of one seemingly toxic relationship,
Patel's remarkable debut encompasses social media, patriarchal systems, and status anxiety into an emotionally visceral whole.
My thoughts:
I’m a Fan tells the story of a woman who wrestles with the objects of her obsession in a powerful take on gender, race, and power dynamics.
The protagonist of Sheena Patel’s debut is a 30-year-old arts freelancer living in south London, who is fanatical about two individuals: “the man I want to be with” and “the woman I am obsessed with”, who is also having an affair with “the man I want to be with”.
With a clear and unforgiving voice, the narrator unpicks the behaviour of all involved, herself included, and makes startling connections between the power struggles at the heart of human relationships and those of the wider world.
Her writing feels like flicking through your phone. Not only is it attention grabbing, but the chapters are short and addictive. This allows for a reading sensation a bit like scrolling mindlessly through your feed, telling yourself “The next chapter is only short; I might as well keep going.”
I found Patel’s exploration of access and the abuse of social media particularly interesting, as she offers commentary on our cultural obsession with status and how that status is conveyed. At times it was scary to see the lengths this protagonist would go to, and just how easy it was for her to find all kinds of information online.
It’s rare to race through - and completely lap up - a book where the protagonist is exceptionally frustrating, and the supporting characters are totally despicable. At times it makes for uncomfortable reading, but I simply couldn’t put this book down. Patel’s debut is original, well-observed, and a mesmerizing read. I’m absolutely a fan.
Overall reaction:
I’m a Fan tells the story of a woman who wrestles with the objects of her obsession in a powerful take on gender, race, and power dynamics.
The protagonist of Sheena Patel’s debut is a 30-year-old arts freelancer living in south London, who is fanatical about two individuals: “the man I want to be with” and “the woman I am obsessed with”, who is also having an affair with “the man I want to be with”.
With a clear and unforgiving voice, the narrator unpicks the behaviour of all involved, herself included, and makes startling connections between the power struggles at the heart of human relationships and those of the wider world.
Her writing feels like flicking through your phone. Not only is it attention grabbing, but the chapters are short and addictive. This allows for a reading sensation a bit like scrolling mindlessly through your feed, telling yourself “The next chapter is only short; I might as well keep going.”
I found Patel’s exploration of access and the abuse of social media particularly interesting, as she offers commentary on our cultural obsession with status and how that status is conveyed. At times it was scary to see the lengths this protagonist would go to, and just how easy it was for her to find all kinds of information online.
It’s rare to race through - and completely lap up - a book where the protagonist is exceptionally frustrating, and the supporting characters are totally despicable. At times it makes for uncomfortable reading, but I simply couldn’t put this book down. Patel’s debut is original, well-observed, and a mesmerizing read. I’m absolutely a fan.
Overall reaction:
